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Types of Cells
In this section I want to give some idea of the variety of cells that it should be possible to find in a local church area. This is not meant to be an exclusive list in any way, as God’s creative will is sure to bring together groupings that I could never imagine. Neither is it to be seen as a goal, “If we have all of these types of cell then we are a successful Church”. What I want to outline here are simply some possibilities to whet your appetite.
I think that this is a good place to reiterate that a cell (or home church, if you like) is a complete expression of the local church, and should seek to serve their members as such. But in the same way that traditional churches often have a specific thrust, so cells within a wider local cell church group, will each have a specific flavour and approach, this is what I want to explore here. Some cells will start with one nature (normally evangelical) but as they grow will take of a new thrust (Perhaps healing), later as the folk receive from the Lord they may change again to show that maturity.
Evangelistic Cells
The most basic sort of cell is the evangelistic cell. In normal circumstances it should be seen as the basic model for all cells (With the exception of the leaders cell and possibly some of those clearly indicated as being only for believers). In the great commission we are all called to preach the Gospel (Matt. 28:19,20), equally the apostle Paul indicates that all should do the work of an evangelist (2Tim 4:5).
The first call in an Organic Church will almost certainly be an evangelistic cell. I would probably be unusual for there to be anything other than evangelistic cells until the church had grown to 4 or 5 cells in a local area. The Church is an organism, and organisms must grow, it is their nature. It is interesting to note that in all higher organisms, the cells in the original cell cluster are all the same; it is only later that the cells begin to specialize into different types. Almost any cell can be evangelistic in nature, (Children’s, youth, social action etc.); there are no hard and fast rules. We don’t rely on human structures, but the grace of God. He guides, He gives life and we submit to Him, allowing Him to form His will in us.
Leaders Cells
In the majority of situations the second type of cell to form will be the leaders cell. I have spoken about these cells in other places so will not go into depth here. But it is clear that as soon as you have more than one cell, the leaders will want to meet together. Leaders cells are not just for leaders, but also for wives, potential leaders and perhaps even sometimes for folk that need encouragement. It is important to note two things. Firstly, being invited to participate in a leaders cell does not necessarily make you a leader, (Something that must clearly be understood by all, and reiterated from time to time). And, secondly, that the purpose of a leaders cell is to give a “safe” environment, in which to be accountable to one another. Therefore it is important that no one should be introduced to the group who would work against that goal. Entrance to this group must be at the invitation of all the members.
Hospital or Healing Cells
So many folk come to us hurting that, I would expect to see this third sort of cell, emerge quite early in the life of the new organic church. It’s purpose is to provide a safe healing environment for those who are hurting, who have been damaged by their walk in the world and sometimes, it has to be said, as a result of their interactions with other Christians.
The leaders of this type of group would normally be skilled, experienced counsellors. Well able to offer care, prayer and understanding (along with necessary prods in to action) for those in their care. If there are no suitable counsellors in the church a senior pastor could lead this group, or perhaps an older couple, who would be willing to learn, with the support of a senior pastor.
These cells must be seen as places where one spends a time of healing, and not as a permanent spiritual home. They should have a limited lifespan, allowing everyone to move on, and time for the leaders to recoup their strength before moving on to help others. If the leaders are not allowed this recouping time they very soon become tired and stale.
Sometimes in cells like this you will find one dependant person who just won’t let go. They of suffer from the POM’s (poor old me). They need to be gentle led to accept and confess that POM is a sin and they should begin to take responsibility for their own lives, with the Lord’s help and not rely on their counsellors /helpers. They definitely should not be allowed to continue in a healing cell for a long time, but encouraged to join a cell with a leader that will encourage them into independence.
If church size or situation allows, it may be a good idea to have specialist healing
cells: Marriage, Children, and Abuse etc. One specialism that I would recommend for
larger churches is a widows /widowers cell. Older folk, who have lost life long partners,
need a positive environment in which to grieve. This has been vividly bought home
to me recently, as I have seen my mother-
The leaders of healing cells need to have time for their own healing and development as well. They should be encouraged to have some time off each year.
Children’s Cells
Youth cells
See other materials
Communities
Many Christians are once again feeling the call to live together in community, sharing all things in common. It is possible to have communities within an organic cell church, with each community house making up one cell. This is more or less how some of the larger Christian communities like Jesus Army function.
I don’t want to go deeply into communities, as that is not the purpose of this work. What it is important to say is that a community should have no special position within the church, it’s just another sort of cell.
Prophetic / Intercessory cells
Given that the local church grouping was sufficiently large, one or more prophetic/intercessory cells could be formed.
Bringing together the intercessors and those who prophecy is a good move for any
church. It provides a resource of guidance and blessing for the leaders, it provides
blessing too for the intercessors and “prophets” and provides a forum for testing
prophetic words, received by the church (1 Cor. 14:29-
In order to stop “self-
There seems to be a great confusion in the church over the difference between a prophet,
one who serves in the gift ministry of Prophet (Eph. 2:20; 4:7-
Social Action Cells
Some feel led to cells that have a clear social action thrust. I know of cells within churches that have started soup kitchens, after school clubs, refuges for battered wives and much much more. If a cell feels led to enter into social action, first they should be encouraged to collaborate with other groups (taking the church into the community), then they should draw up a plan, seek finance, and perhaps set up a trust to guide the work. If it is something smaller, the cell should be encouraged to “get on with it”.
One small cell (within a much larger Church), that I know of, took a welcome pack to every new family moving into their town. It comprised of a homemade cake (made by a member of the group), a new testament and a “Welcome to _______” booklet, giving information about the town, services, bus timetables etc. as well as information about the church. It also included a personalized invitation to an Alpha Supper from a member of the cell. All of this was funded by small advertisements in the booklet, paid for by local businesses. This is positive social action, of real help to newcomers in the community.
Missionary Cells
In recent years the nature of missions has changed a lot; there are fewer full time
career missionaries, short-
The cell should contain not only people interested in missions support, but also those interested in short term missions from the church and actual church missionaries, when they are visiting. The emphasis should primarily be on the mission field and the support (not just financial) of the folk there. Members of the group should communicate as much as possible with those in the field, so that prayers can always be fresh. Communication should be imaginative, using many different methods; Letters, Parcels with specialties from home (we’d die for a pork pie, and as for kippers……), telephone, EMail, teleconferences, videos etc. One church I know in the United States, send their missionaries a banner every year. You might think, well what’s the use of that? But I can’t begin to tell you how loved it makes those missionaries feel, as they know that folk in the US are spending hours, pouring their love into this work of art, for their missionaries. The natives to whom these missionaries minister are also blessed, as each year the couple present the previous years banner to a local church. This is truly creative communication. Sometimes I wish that someone would just take time to video a whole Sunday Service, with greetings and coffee included, just so that I could join in a service with folk that I know and love. Creative communication is all that it needs. A missionary cell could also help with one of the missionary’s most difficult tasks, the missionary news and prayer letter. Many missionaries spend up to 20% of their time working on these necessary means of communications, but in doing so are being diverted from their principal ministry. Given good communication between the cell and the missionary, the cell could take this task from the missionaries shoulders thus freeing them for ministry, the personal touch would not be lost, as the missionary would continue to write personally to those who wrote to him. This is how the church builds itself up in love.
Many feel that a cell or home church that is so focused, cannot fulfil the goal of
fully expressing the local church, but that is just not so. I know a church in South
East London, whose main thrust for many years, was missions. So much so that they
became well known all over Africa and later in Eastern Europe. Even in Spain people
have spoken to me about the missionary zeal of that church. Yet all the while that
mission was centre stage in that church, the Lord blessed it. The church still has
mission high on its agenda, although is now more balanced in its approach. You can
be a one-
Study
A study cell is perhaps the most difficult to run. Here we are not talking about just Bible study, all cells should do that. No, here we are talking about a cell for those who for whatever reason want more, perhaps to prepare for ministry or to grow in knowledge of the Word. At 45 and having recently completed my doctoral thesis, I am still “studying to show myself approved.” I am so in love with the Word that I continually want to know more.
The cell should be a mixture of folk, with no defined students or teachers, but all learning from one another. It shouldn’t just study the Bible, but also current events and controversies in the light of the Bible. On the day that I am writing this, an ex head of state has been put on trial for crimes against humanity, and I feel impelled to deepen my knowledge of what the bible has to say about the accountability of both national and local leaders.
The group should seek to share their discoveries with the whole church, thus helping all to grow in the love and knowledge of the Lord.
Arts, Media and Worship Cell
In a larger local church one or more of these cells would be a blessing. Often springing from prophetic cell these cell provide a great home for those with artistic giftings, who are often misunderstood by those who do not share their gifts. Their work may be seen by some as being a bit “fringe”. We have a friend who is studying “Drama Therapy”, and the response of many is to see that as weird, rather than as a good means to help folk in need. I remember another congregation where we ministered, where we really came into blessing when we stopped thinking and talking about “Mary” being “an exhibitionist prancing around at the back” and welcomed her to share her gift at the front. In no time at all we had a small group who were able to express in dance, the worship that we all felt but couldn’t show in that way.
God seems to use the arts to speak to the church in a prophetic way, to speak to the church. A good example of this is that the Lord will often stimulate me to produce a computer graphic to use during worship in church, this in turn may give insight to the worship leaders about where God is leading the meeting. It’s only in the intimacy of a cell that enough trust can grow to enable this to happen.
To sum up, an arts and media cell will form a solid base for those who will go on to bless the wider church.
Common Interest Cells
Many Evangelistic cells start because people who share a common interest, come together an in sharing their interest, bring others to know Christ. The common theme may be many and varied; I have already mentioned a Christian hiking club that became a home church, but they could also be PTA’s, Handicraft groups, Camping Clubs, or almost anything else that you can think of. Near the town where I was born, there was an active Christian Model Engineering Club. They made working model steam engines that ran on a small track that they had behind the hut where they met. Every evening and Sunday afternoons, when they met together, they included a time of prayer and Bible study. The spiritual aspect of their club was important to them, although they did not neglect their passion for steam engines. Soon others who were interested only in the trains wanted to join and were allowed a “visiting membership”, many of these too became committed Christians, although some fell away through lack of interest in the spiritual side of the club. Although I’m sure that the club would not have regarded itself as a home church, which is effectively what it was. The members soon found that it was in the club that they found fellowship, love, and a shared growing together in Christ, and not in the local churches that they attended. It is significant to me, that when a home church was planted in their area, the majority of club members joined with their wives and children.
Work-
One of the ideas coming from “Alpha” that I most like is, “Work place Alpha”, that
is “Alpha” cells in the office, shop or factory, where you work. To my mind this
should naturally lead to work-
Many large companies already have Christian Groups of some kind, but what I am suggesting goes somewhat further, with a cell (or cells) in most medium sized companies, each one plugged into the local church network. Christians would then be able to support one another more fully, in the same way that Ananias, Safira and Paul supported each other in their tent making business, and Lydia (a business woman) who had a church in her house. Each Christian could then meet in their cell once or twice a week, share with them here and there during the week and attend congregational and celebration meetings at weekends, thus coming close to the new testament norm of meeting daily.
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